Old East Dallas in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
St. Matthew's Cathedral
The Rev. George Rottenstein held the first Episcopal service in Dallas in a storehouse on May 25, 1856, and organized this parish on St. Matthew's Day, Sept. 21, 1857. The Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg, first bishop of Texas, visited Dallas in 1860 and conducted services in the Masonic Hall. In 1870 the Rev. Silas Dean Davenport led the congregation in erecting its first church building, a frame structure at Elm and Lamar. St. Matthew's became a cathedral in 1875 when the Rt. Rev. Alexander Charles Garrett, the first missionary bishop of North Texas, chose it as his see church.
The growing parish moved to a new brick edifice at Commerce and Kendall in 1877, but that soon became too small. A stone cathedral at Ervay and Canton was occupied in 1895, the year the Diocese of Dallas was created, and consecrated in 1899, just 25 years after Bishop Garrett's consecration. The Rev. Hudson Stuck, benefactor of children, was then dean of the cathedral. The very Rev. Harry Tunis Moore, dean of St. Matthew's in 1907-1917, became second bishop of Dallas when Bishop Garrett died in 1924. In 1929, the congregation moved to the former St. Mary's College Chapel, at this site. By 1976, the original six-member parish numbered over 1300.
Incise: The Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies, D.D. Bishop
The Very Rev. C. Preston Wiles, Ph.D. Dean
Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6861.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion.
Location. 32° 48.487′ N, 96° 46.347′ W. Marker is in Dallas, Texas, in Dallas County. It is in Old East Dallas. Marker can be reached from North Garrett Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1502 N Garrett Avenue, Dallas TX 75206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Munger Place Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Louis Wagner Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Alexander Mansion (approx. half a mile away); Swiss Avenue (approx. half a mile away); The Aldredge House (approx. half a mile away); Harris-Savage House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cristler-Rodgers House (approx. ¾ mile away); William B. Lipscomb Elementary School (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dallas.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 14, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.